A mobile app developed by Sonli Group, a company based in Shinan district, Qingdao is able to check the real-time number of vacant parking spots and accept automated payments.

More and more cities are striving to create an urban intelligent parking cloud platform in order to solve parking problems.

The key to intelligent parking is guiding vehicles to vacant parking spots so as to more efficiently make use of available space.

Video recognition technology is applied to poles behind the parking spots which automatically identifies license plate numbers and records the time the vehicle was parked. Parking fees can also be calculated automatically.

The group has been developing the intelligent parking platform in many cities around China, such as Beijing, Guiyang, Qingdao, Shanghai, and Zibo, over the past six years.

Liu Hansong, chairman of the group, said that they will help accelerate the development of intelligent parking platforms and offer statistical support for the construction of smart cities.

An intelligent identification pole helps with parking services on Longde Road in Shinan district, Qingdao. [Photo/qdsn.gov.cn]